Annual Stewardship Appeal and the Expansion of Education Tax Credit Program

It’s that time of year again when you will soon be receiving our Annual Stewardship Appeal letter. I ask you to give your donation serious thought and prayer. This is an important appeal for the running of your parish. All of the money raised as part of this appeal stays here at St. Joseph parish and helps to keep the parish operating. There is no way that St. Joseph Parish could survive simply on the weekly contributions collected. We depend on your generosity throughout the year, but especially during this important outreach. Please believe me that your generosity is sincerely appreciated. If you are not able to make the requested contribution, please make whatever donation that you feel is appropriate and supportive of your parish and know that it does make a difference. I also want to remind you that the census update form is included with this appeal. Please take the time to fill out the form so that our records can be as current as possible. This year we have added a box so that if your information is unchanged, you can simply check the box with no need to fill out the entire census sheet. But please only use this option if you are certain that we have up to date information for you and your household. If a child is away at college, but he/she still resides at home, please be sure to include them. If they have moved out of the house, please let us know that too.

This Wednesday we will have our Night of Inquiry for those interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith or considering entering it. Now is the time to register for this RCIA program so if you or someone you know is considering it, please contact the rectory at 215-672-3020 and let us know you plan on attending.

We have been contacted by the Archdiocese and the US Catholic Bishops Conference about asking for your support for the Expansion of Education Tax Credit Program. Pennsylvania lawmakers have returned to Harrisburg to continue debating the 2017-18 state budget. While this remains an uncertain time, it is also an important time to show support for an expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

It has been acclaimed as one of the best educational programs Pennsylvania offers to students in both public and private schools, and as stands, the House has a chance to vote on an EITC increase. We need your help to urge and remind all lawmakers to invest in the success and support of the expansion of the EITC program by voting YES on a state budget that includes an increase. Here is a link to the Voter Voice website where you can easily send an email to ask for support: http://www.pacatholic.org/resources/voter-voice. Additionally, here is a link for people to determine who their legislators are, if needed.

About Our Church

Our parish was founded in 1922 in what was then a rural area straddling Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Initially parishioners struggled to get a church started but gradually the parish grew as the exodus to the suburbs got underway. We are a Parish of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia PA.